1719
Jan 1
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[Thomas Tudway to Humfrey Wanley, 1 January 1718/9] [...] My sixth, & last volume, is now at a stand, & must wait for Copies, from severall places, & particularly, those promis’d me from Dr Arbuthnot, & Oxford wch my Noble Lord has promis’d to procure me; I am desirous this last volume, should be as comprehensive as possible, & take in all liveing Authors, as well as such, who have dy’d since the work was begun; [...][1] |
Feb 3
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[Diary of the Reverend Dr Henry Brydges] Tuesday February 3 [... 32r ...] I supt at Col. Jacob’s where ye same company that din’d at my Mothers (except The. Leigh) met at Seven, Sr. Hungerford & Lady Hoskyns, H. Walcot, Mr. Baxter, Dr. Pepuis, Mrs. Margarita and Mrs. Pullman join’d us & spent ye Evening with us.[2] |
Feb 9
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[Jonathan Swift to ?] [“1719, Feb. 9. Dublin.”] Sir, I was twice disappointed with your letter. When I saw your name on the outside I thought it had been a civility you had done to some friend to save me postage; when I saw the same name after opening I was in hopes to hear something of you and your family, my Lord Oxford, Lord Harley, and your son, and I wish you had sayd something on that head by way of postscript. I desire you will ask my Lord Oxford whether his brother Nathaniel understands musick; if he does, and recommends Mr. Lovelace particularly from his own knowledge, something may be said. I have the honour to be Captain of a band of nineteen musicians (including boys), which are I hear about five less then my friend the D. of Chandos, and I understand musick like a Muscovite; but my quire is so degenerate under the reigns of former Deans of famous memory, that the race of people called Gentlemen Lovers of Musick tell me I must be very carefull in supplying two vacancyes, which I have been two years endeavoring to do. For you are to understand that in disposing these musicall employments, I determine to act directly contrary to Ministers of State, by giving them to those who best deserve. If you had recommended a person to me for a Church-living in my gift, I would be less curious; because an indifferent Parson may do well enough, if he be honest, but Singers like their brothers the Poets must be very good, or they are good for nothing. I wish my Lord Oxford had writ to me on this subject, that I might have had the pleasure of refusing him in direct terms. If you will order Mr. Lovelace to enquire for one Rosingrave my organist now in London, and approve his skill to him, on his report I shall be ready lo accept Lovelace, which is the short of the matter that I have made so many words of, in revenge for your saying nothing of what I would desire to know; and I must desire you to put my Lord Oxford in mind of sending me his picture, for it is just eight years last Tuesday since he promised me. If you had said but one syllable of my sister Harriette I could have pardoned you. [...][3] |
[Wells, 17 February 1719]
I was at our Musick-Meeting where we had the first tryal of Hendel’s Pastoral [?Acis and Galatea].[4]
Mr. Hendel, a famous Master of Musick, is gone beyond Sea, by Order of his Majesty, to Collect a Company of the choicest Singers in Europe, for the Opera in the Hay-Market.[5]
May 1
|
[John Hughes to Mary, Countess Cowper, May
Day 1719] Madam Mrs Barbier’s Time being so very [356] uncertain, I
have engag’d another of my Musical
Acquaintance, Mrs Robinson, the Daughter of
Dr Turner, who will be proud of the
Opportunity of waiting on your Ladyship
tomorrow in the Evening. Her late
Improvement has I think plac’d her in the first
Rank of our English Performers. Mr Robinson
begs leave to send his own Harpsichord,
that of your Ladyship’s being, as I
remember, not exactly of the Consort Pitch. I
have likewise sent to Mr Hendel, who if he is
not engag’d will, I am sure, be very glad of
the Same Opportunity. I wish it may
be any way in my Power to contribute
to your Ladyship’s Entertainment or
Satisfaction, & am [Hunter: very] sorry it is only in Trifles I
can express the very great Sense I have of
Obligations which can never be acknowledg’d
as they ought by Madam Your Ladyship’s most dutiful [Hunter: dutifull] & most obedient humble Servt May-Day 1719[6] |
May 30
|
New Musick just publish’d, [...] The Princess Anne’s Chacoone, Mr L’Abee’s new Dance for his Majesty’s Birth-Day, 1719. The Tune by Mr Galliard, to which is add the newest Minuits, Riggadoons, and French Dances, perform’d at Court and Publick Entertainments. price 6 d. Printed for John Walsh, Servant in ordinary to his Majesty, at the Harp and Hoboy in Catherine street in the Strand, and J. Hare at the Viol and Flute in Cornhill near the Royal Exchange.[7] |
Jul 13
|
[Paolo Rolli to unknown recipient, 13 July 1719] La Denys, alias Sciarpina, has already sung twice before the Princess [Caroline]. La Parca assists her. The Man [“l’Uomo”] loves and dissimulates, but how long is this to last? La Zanzara Castratina has agreed with Castrucci and Pippo to appear before this excellent Princess twice a week. Sandoni plays the harpsichord, and is much approved. He also will be rewarded, and I am very glad that he had been introduced to Court. Attilio has returned to Town. A lawsuit has driven him from home.[8] |
Jul 15/26
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[Handel to the Earl of Burlington] My Lord C’est toujours autant par une vive reconnoissance, que par devoir, que je me donne l’honneur de Vous dire le zele et l’attachement que j’ay pour Vôtre personne. Je Vous dois de plus un Conte exact de ce que j’ay entrepris, et de la reussite du sujet de mon long voyage. Je suis icy à attendre que les engagements de Sinesino, Berselli, et Guizzardi, soyent finis, et que ces Messieurs d’ailleurs bien disposés, s’engagent avec moy pour la Grande Bretagne. tout sera decidé en quelques jours; j’ay des bonnes esperances, et dés que j’auray conclû quelque chose de réel, je Vous l’ecrirai My Lord, comme a mon bienfaiteur, à mon Protecteur. Conservez moy, My Lord, Vos graces, elles me seront pretieuses, et ce sera toujours avec ardeur et fidelité que je suivray Vôtre service, et Vôs nobles volontés. C’est avec une soumission egalement sincere et profonde que je serai à jamais. My Lord Vôtre à Dresde ce 26/15 de Juillet 1719 tres humble tres obeissant, et tres devoue Serviteur GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL[9] |
Jul 27
|
The Royal Accademy of Musick Charter George by the Grace of God &c To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting know yee that wee of our especial Grace certain knowledge and meer mocon have granted Ordained Constituted and Declared and by these presents for us our heires and Successors Do Grant Ordaine Constitute and Declare That our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin and Counsellour Henry Duke of Kent Keeper of our Privy Seal our Right Trusty and Right Entirely Beloved Cousin and Counsellour Thomas Holles Duke of Newcastle our Chamberlain of our houshold for the time being our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin Charles Duke of Grafton our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin Henry Duke of Portland our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin James Duke of Montrose our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin Charles Duke of Manchester our Right Trusty and Right Entirely beloved Cousin James Duke of Chandos our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin and Counsellour Charles Earl of Sunderland and our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin Henry Earl of Rochester our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin and Counsellour James Earl of Berkeley our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin Richard Earl of Burlington our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin George {51} Earl of Litchfield our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin Henry Earl of Lincoln our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin Thomas Earl of Stafford our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin George Earl of Halifax our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin Henry Earl of Thomond our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin Talbot Earl of Sussex our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin and Counsellour William Earl of Cadogan our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin David Earl of Portmore our Right Trusty and Right Welbeloved Cousin Henry Earl of Montroth our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Cousin Henry Viscount Lonsdale our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Cousin Richard Viscount Castlemaine our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Cousin James Viscount Limerick our Right Trusty and Welbeloved John Lord Gower our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Allen Lord Bathurst our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Robert Lord Bingley Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved George Lord Lansdowne our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Henry Lord Carleton our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Charles Powlet Esquire comonly called Marquis of Winchester our Trusty and Welbeloved Walter Lord Chetwynd our Right Trusty and Welbeloved Counsellour James Craggs one of our Principal Secretaries of State our Trusty and Welbeloved Counsellour Richard Hampden Esquire our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir Hungerford Hoskins Sir Mathew Decker Sir John Guise and Sir Wilfred Lawson Baronets our Trusty and Welbeloved Sir John Jennings Sir George Coke and Sir Humphry Howarth Knights our Trusty and Welbeloved Thomas Coke Vice Chamberlain of our Housh[old] William Evans Roger Jones James Bruce William Pulteney Thomas Coke Thomas Harrison Benjamin Mildmay Thomas Harrison George Wade ffrancis Whitworth William Chetwynd Thomas Smith Martin Bladin Thomas Gage ffrancis Negus William Young Brian ffairfax and John Arbuthnot Esquires and such others who shall hereafter be admitted in manner hereinafter menconed to be subscribers to the Corporation hereby Established shall from henceforth for and during the Term of one and Twenty years be and be called One Body Corporate and Politick for Carrying on Operas and other Entertainments of Musick within this our kingdom of Great Britain in Deed and in name by the Name of the Royal Accademy of Musick and them by the name of the Royal Accademy of Musick one Body Corporate and Politick in Deed and in name really and fully for us our heires and Successors wee do Erect Ordain Make Create and Constitute by these presents And that they by the same Name of The Royal Accademy of Musick shall and may for the purposes aforesaid have Succession during the Term of one and Twenty years from the date of these our letters Patents And that they and their Successors by the same Name may Sue and be Sued plead and be Impleaded Answer and be Answered Defend and be Defended in all Courts and places and before whatsoever Judges and Justices and other Persons and Officers of us our heires and Successors that now are or hereafter shall be within that part of our united kingdom of Great Britain called England in all and singular Actions Pleas Suites Plaints Causes matters and Demand[s] whatsoever and of whatsoever kind Quality nature or Sort they be or shall be and may do and Execute all and every other Acts and things in the same and in as ample manner and forme to all intents and purposes as any other of our Subjects of that part of our united kingdom of Great Britain called England being persons able and capable in Law or any other Body Corporate and Politick within that part of our united kingdom of Great Britain called [England] may and can Sue and be Sued plead and be Impleaded Answer and be Answered Defend and be Defended do Performe and Execute And further wee have given and Granted And by these presents for us our heires and Successors do Give and Grant unto the said Corporation hereby Established and their Successors for and during the Term aforesaid full power and Authority to gather together Entertain Govern Priviledge and keep all such Proper and fit persons as they shall Judge necessary for the purposes aforesaid to Exercise and Act Operas And to Exhibit all other Entertainments of Musick within any house built or to be built where the same can be best fitted and rendred convenient and Suitable for the purposes aforesaid and wherein Operas and all other Entertainments of Musick whatsoever may be shewed and presented all and every which said Person and {52} Persons so Employed kept and Entertained by the said Corporacon shall be Subject to such Contracts Restriccons Regulations and agreements as the said Corporacon hereby Erected and their Successors shall think meet And wee do hereby for us our heires and Successors Grant unto the Corporacon hereby Constituted full power lycence and authority to permit such persons at and during the pleasure of the said Corporation and their Successors from time to time to Exercise and Act Operas and to Exhibit other Entertainments of Musick of all sorts peaceably and quietly without the Impeachment or Impediment of any person or persons whatsoever for the Encouragement of such who shall apply themselves to the Art of Musick and the honest Recreation of such who shall desire to hear or see the same Nevertheless under the Regulacons hereinafter menconed and such others as the said Corporacon shall find reasonable and necessary to be Observed And that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Corporation and their Successors to take and receive of such our Subjects as shall resort to see or hear any such Operas or other entertainments of Musick whatsoever such Sume or Sumes of money as either have Accustomably been given and taken in the like kind or as shall be thought reasonable by the said Corporation in regard of the great Expences of Scenes Musick and such New Decorations as have not been formerly used Subject nevertheless to the Regulations hereinafter mentioned And further for us our heires and Successors wee do hereby Give and Grant unto the said Corporation hereby Constituted and their Successors full power to make such allowances out of that which shall be received by the Acting of Operas and Exhibiting other Entertainments of Musick as aforesaid to the Actors and other Persons Employed in Acting Representing or in any Quality whatsoever about the said house as the said Corporation shall think fit And that all such Persons shall be under the Sole Government and Authority of the said Cor[por]ation and their Successors in manner herein after mentioned and all Scandalous and mutinous persons shall from time to time by the said Corporation be ejected and disabled from Acting And further wee have Given and Granted And by these presents for us our heires and Successors do give and Grant to the said Corporation hereby Established and their Successors full power and Authority to have use and enjoy for the Term of one and Twenty yeares from the date hereof a Common Seal for the affaires and Business of the said Corporation which shall be and be called the Comon Seal of the Corporation of the Royal Accademy of Musick and the same Seal at their pleasure from time to time to break alter and make New as to the said Corporation and their Successors shall seem best to be done And further for the due and orderly Regulating and Government of the said Corporation hereby Erected wee do hereby for us our heires and Successors Grant unto the same and their Successors that from henceforth during the Term of one and Twenty yeares there shall be a Governour a Deputy Governour and ffifteen Directors at the least but the same not to Exceed the Number of Twenty of which five shall be a Quorum who shall be Members of the said Corporacon and be called Directors of the said Corporacon of the Royal Accademy of Musick which said Governor Deputy Governor and any five or more of the said Directors shall be a Court of Directors of the said Corporacon And that the Lord Chamberlain of our houshold for the time being shall be always Governor of the said Corporation And that the first Deputy Governour and Directors be Chosen out of the Members of the said Corporation by Majority of votes of the Members of the said Corporation by Balloting within one kallendar Month from the date of these our letters Patents at such convenient place as the Governor shall appoint for that purpose And who being so Chosen shall continue in their respective Offices till the Two and Twentieth of November next following the date of these presents or till other Deputy Governor and Directors are Chosen in their Room and that all and every future Deputy Governor and Directors be in like manner and at such place Chosen on the Two and Twentieth day of November or within fourteen days after To continue in their respective Offices for one whole year or untill others shall be Elected in their Room And in case of Death Avoidance or Removal of the Deputy Governour or of any of the Directors of the said Corporacon for the time being the Survivors of them or the Majority of those remaining in their said Office of Directors may at any time {53} with the Consent of the Governor Assemble together the Members of the said Corporacon in Order to Elect other Persons in the Room of those then dead removed or Avoided respectively And all and every Person and Persons so Chosen in any of the Cases aforesaid shall be admitted to be Deputy Governor Director or Directors respectively of the said Corporation And wee do hereby will Ordain and appoint that all and every person or Persons shall be and be Esteemed Qualified and Capable to be an Elector to vote and shall or may give a vote for an Election of the Deputy Governor or the Directors or any of them for or concerning the making of By laws or any other matters relating to the affaires or Government of the said Corporation who shall at the time of such his voting have in his or her Name and Right the Sume of Two hundred pounds or more Share or Interest in the Capital Stock of the said Corporation and not otherwise and that all and every person or persons shall be capable of giving in any of the Cases aforesaid two votes who shall at the time of such his voting have in his or her Name and Right six hundred pounds or more Share or Interest in the said Capital Stock and not otherwise And wee do hereby for us our heires and Successors Give and Grant to the said Corporation and their Successors full power and Authority to receive and take subscriptions from any person or Persons whatsoever who shall tender themselves and be willing to become Members of the said Corporation any Sume or Sumes of Money so as the same be not less than the Sume of Two hundred pounds for each Person And every person so Subscribing and paying in the same or so much thereof as shall be required by the said Corporation into the Capital Stock of the said Corporation shall thereupon be Admitted to be a Member of the said Corporation and shall be capable of voting and acting as such in manner herein declared And wee do declare that all Sums of money which shall be Subscribed in pursuance of these our letters Patents together with all Bounties which from time to time by any person whatsoever shall be given or Granted to or to the use or benefit of the said Corporation shall be the Joynt Stock of the said Corporation for the purposes hereby intended And further wee do for us our heires and Successors Give and Grant unto the said Corporacon hereby Constituted and their Successors full power and Authority to hold a Generall Court once in three Months or oftner if the Governour shall think fit at such convenient place as he shall appoint for that purpose And that the Members of the said Corporation or the Major part of such of them as shall be as aforesaid Assembled in a Generall Court of the said Corporation (publick and timely Notice being first given to such of the Members of the said Corporation tor the time being who shall be then resident within the Cities of London and Westminster or [the suburbs and environs] thereof holding and keeping every such General Court) shall and may according to their sound discretions Conferr Consult and advise of all matters and things whatsoever touching or concerning the said Corporation and the good Rule and Government of the same and the Members thereof And shall and may also by Plurality of votes at such General Court make Constitute Ordain and Establish from time to time in writing By laws Rules Regulations Ordinances Orders and Constitucons whatsoever being reasonable and not repugnant to the Laws of our Realm nor against the Publick and Comon good of the said Corporation Provided Neverthelesse and our express will and pleasure is that at and in the said General Court and in the Court of Directors herein Constituted and elsewhere the Governor shall always have a Negative vote in all matters whatsoever relating to the said Corporation And that no such Bylaws Rules Regulacons Ordinances Orders and Constitucons as aforesaid to be made and Establish[ed] shall be valid or binding without his Consent or approbation And that if the said Corporation shall at any time hereafter refuse to obey any Orders from the Governor signified to them in writing for that purpose they shall forfeit the Bounty which now is or may at any time hereafter be Granted them by us our heires or Successors And our will and pleasure is That a Court of Directors of the said Corporation be held once in each kalendar Month or oftner as the Governor shall think fit at such Convenient place {54} as he shall appoint for that purpose to Consult about the affairs and management of the said Corporation And in the absence of the Governor the Deputy Governor and Directors by majority of votes shall Choose a Chairman for that Meeting To which said Court of Directors wee do hereby for us our heires and Successors give full power and Authority from time to time as occasion shall [require] to call upon the Subcribers for any Sume of Money out of their respective Subscriptions And if any person shall Neglect or Refuse to Answer such call within the time appointed for that purpose Our will and pleasure is that such Person so Neglecting or Refusing shall thenceforth fforfeit his share in the said Capital Stock of the said Corporacon and Cease to be a Member thereof Reserving always to us our heires and Successors during the Term hereby Granted full power and Authority by any future letters Patents under the Great Seal of Great Britain from time to time to Explain Alter Enlarge or Amend all or any of the Powers and Authorities herein before Granted or mentioned to be granted lastly wee will and by these presents for us our heires and Successors do Grant unto the Corporation hereby Constituted and their Successors That these our letters Patents or the inrollment thereof shall be and remain from time to time good firm valid and effectual in the law according to the true intent and meaning thereof in all things and shall be taken construed and Expounded in the most favourable and beneficial Sense for the best advantage of the said Corporation and their Successors Notwithstand[ing] any Defect uncertainty omission or Imperfeccon in these our letters Patents or any other matter cause or thing whatsoever to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding In witnesse [whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent] witnesse William Archbishop of Canterbury [& the rest of the guardians & justices of the kingdom] at Westminster the twenty seventh day of July [in the fifth year of our reign] By writt of Privy Seal [Cocks][10] |
[Paolo Rolli in Richmond to Giuseppe Riva in Hanover, August 1719]
{…} the jealous fits of [La Denys, alias] Sciarpinetta are fun to observe. La Devinport is rather ugly {...}, with a nose like a jug {...}, and she takes snuff {...} like a grenadier. But the man (?perhaps Sandoni or Handel) is often alone with her {...}. I suppose that Sciapinetta, with her dagger-shooting eyes, is shaken {...}. I confess that I have been diverted.[11]
Nov 30
|
Several Motions being made for Leave for ye persons following to Subscribe to ye Royal Academy vizt Duke of Wharton (recommended bye Mr Heidegger), Lord Percivale (Mr Whitworth), Sir Robert Childe (Duke of Manchester), Sir John Eyles (Ditto), Mr Burnett (Mr Harrison), Cha: Whitworth Esqr. (Mr Whitworth), Major Boyle Smith (Mr Heidegger), Sir Thomas Samuel (Mr Blathwayte). Leave was granted Accordingly.[12] |
Dec 2
|
A motion being made by Mr Whitworth that Sir William Gordon & John Proby Esqr. have Leave to Subscribe Leave was given accordingly.[13] |
The Solemn LOVER. A New SONG, made to entertain the Persons of Quality, and other my Friends at my Play. The Words made to a pretty Minuet, Compos’d by Mr. Hendell.
[…][14]
The Noblest Works of Rafaelle, the most Ravishing Musick of Hendell, the most Masterly Strokes of Milton, touch not People without Discernment: So the Beauties of the Works of the great Author of Nature are not seen but by Enlighten’d Eyes, […][15]
[1] British Library, Add. Ms. 70482,(formerly Portland Papers 29/257), loose folios.
[2] British Library, Add. Ms. 61999, 31v-32r [pp. 60-61]; repr. Graydon Beeks, “‘A Club of Composers’: Handel, Pepusch and Arbuthnot at Cannons,” in Handel: Tercentenary Collection, ed. Stanley Sadie and Anthony Hicks (London: Macmillan Press, 1987), 209-21: 213.
[3] The Manuscripts of Rye and Hereford Corporations; Capt. Loder-Symonds, Mr. E. R. Wodehouse, M.P., and others (London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1892), 404.
[4] [Claver Morris], The Diary of a West Country Physician, A.D. 1684-1726, ed. Edmund Hobhouse (Rochester: Stanhope Press, 1934), 69.
[5] The Original Weekly Journal, Saturday 21 February 1719, 1358 [p. 4 of issue].
[6] Hertfordshire Record Office D/EP F61: P. E. Roberts, “John Hughes and His Patron, Lord Cowper: Some Unpublished Correspondence,” Notes and Queries 22(8) (1975), 353-57: 355-56; repr. David Hunter, “Handel, John Hughes and Mary, Countess Cowper,” Newsletter of the American Handel Society 13/3 (December 1998), 1, 6: 1.
[7] The Post-Man; and The Historical Account, &c, no. 17245, Thursday 28 – Saturday 30 May 1719, [2].
[8] R. A. Streatfeild, “Handel, Rolli, and Italian Opera in London in the Eighteenth Century,” The Musical Quarterly 3 (1917), 428-45: 432.
[9] Foundling Museum, Gerald Coke Handel Collection, accession no. 4614 (transcription of the original manuscript); repr. Händel Handbuch, 83.
[10] Judith Milhous and Robert D. Hume, “The Charter for the Royal Academy of Music,” Music & Letters 67 (1986) 50-58: 50-54.
[11] Lowell Lindgren, “Musicians and Librettists in the Correspondence of Gio. Giacomo Zamboni (Oxford, Bodleian Library, MSS Rawlinson Letters 116-138),” [Royal Musical Association] Research Chronicle 24 (1991), 1-194: 30-31.
[12] Judith Milhous and Robert D. Hume, “The Charter for the Royal Academy of Music,” Music & Letters 67 (1986) 50-58: 57.
[13] Judith Milhous and Robert D. Hume, “The Charter for the Royal Academy of Music,” Music & Letters 67 (1986) 50-58: 57.
[14] See Ilias Chrissochoidis, Early Reception of Handel’s Oratorios, 1732-1784: Narrative – Studies – Documents (Ann Arbor: UMI, 2004), 666.
[15] See Chrissochoidis, Early Reception, 667.